Get ready for a controversial change concerning your Amazon Echo! Starting March 28, 2025, Alexa will begin sending everything you say to Amazon’s cloud, leaving many users concerned about their privacy.

For years, Echo owners could opt for local voice processing, a feature that allowed users to keep their conversations off Amazon’s servers. However, Amazon has announced that this option will be permanently removed, as the company aims to expand Alexa's capabilities with new generative AI features that heavily rely on cloud processing.

In an email sent to Echo customers, Amazon stated: 'We are reaching out to let you know that the Alexa feature ‘Do Not Send Voice Recordings’ that you enabled on your supported Echo device(s) will no longer be available.' This means that from the specified date, all voice commands will be recorded and processed in Amazon’s cloud — but rest assured, the company claims that these recordings will be deleted after processing.

However, the bad news doesn’t stop there! Users who have previously chosen to 'Don’t save recordings' will find that this setting will disable the Voice ID feature, which is crucial for accessing personalized services like calendar events and music preferences. To maintain this functionality, users will need to adjust their settings manually.

Amazon clarified that this 'Do Not Send Voice Recordings' setting was an opt-in feature, utilized by less than 0.03% of customers, mostly in the US and English-speaking regions. Additionally, the feature was only available on three specific Echo devices: Echo Dot (4th Gen), Echo Show 10, and Echo Show 15.

In response to concerns, an Amazon spokesperson insisted that customer privacy remains a priority, stating, 'The Alexa experience is designed to protect our customers’ privacy and keep their data secure.' They emphasized their commitment to privacy tools that work seamlessly with its latest AI innovations.

This decision has sparked outrage among many users, with comments flooding in on platforms like Reddit. Dissatisfied customers expressed their frustration, emphasizing the importance of voice control for accessibility. Users lamented the potential inactivity of their devices, with cries like, 'I’m going downstairs to unplug and trash my Alexa right now!' dominating discussions.

As Amazon prepares to launch its revamped Alexa with extensive AI enhancements, customers are left to wonder if the sacrifices in privacy are worth the trade-offs for improved functionality. Will you continue using your Echo, or will this be the final straw? The choice is yours, but be prepared; your once trusty assistant may turn into a liability if you don't adjust to the new settings!